At Hotel Hooker, New Name Is In

WILLIMANTIC — The town's infamous Main Street rooming house with a reputation for housing prostitutes has gotten rid of one big hooker -- its name.

The Hotel Hooker has been renamed the Seth Chauncey Hotel after its founder, Seth Chauncey Hooker, who named it when he built it in 1887 -- before his last name was synonymous with prostitutes.

``We cut out his last name. Sorry, Mr. Hooker,'' said Pam Hall, executive director of the hotel. ``It retains the history and it takes the hooker out. No more hookers.''

A Superior Court judge had ordered a receiver, Albert Bleau, to take over management of the hotel. Prosecutors said the hotel, which is for sale, had been the scene of repeated arrests for drugs and prostitution.

Bleau thought it best to take Hooker out of the name and will cover up the sign. But the new management is hoping the change in the hotel will be more than just in the hotel's name. It has instituted new security measures and is renting to a different kind of clientele.

``I think it's going to be slow. If we changed the name and didn't change what we're doing, nothing would happen,'' Hall said.

Bleau renamed the building after he received suggestions from a contest. Input came from hotel residents, Bleau's staff and townspeople. Some of the other choices were the Frog Prince Hotel and the Thread City Hotel.

``The response seems pretty good so far,'' Bleau said.

The hotel's owner, Robert Riquier, didn't have a choice about the renaming, said Dawn Brodeur, who works with Riquier at his pawn shop. Riquier was out of town Thursday.

``History still lies in Mr. Hooker's name and the environment is still the same,'' Brodeur said.

By March 1, the building may have a new owner anyway. A bank has the option to buy it, and Common Ground, a nonprofit organization, wants to lease it for supportive housing, Bleau said.

``When the hotel is sold within a month, the new owner can give the building any name it chooses, so what has this really accomplished other than to spend some more of Mr. Riquier's money?'' said Jeff Kestenband, Riquier's lawyer.